'/> Amazing Animals: colorful parrots
Showing posts with label colorful parrots. Show all posts
Showing posts with label colorful parrots. Show all posts

Tuesday, June 2, 2015

10 Elegant and Graceful White Birds

These birds are simply elegant, graceful and dazzles in their pure white plumage. Check them out and learn interesting facts about them as well.

1. Trumpeter Swan

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Trumpeter Swan (Cygnus buccinator) is the largest swan native to North America. The species preferred habitats include large rivers, lakes, and ponds. The adult Trumpeter Swan is all white in plumage with a long, straight neck. Legs, feet and wedge-shaped bill are black. Fully grown usually measure 138–165 cm (4 ft 6 in–5 ft 5 in) long and weighs typically 7–13.6 kg (15–30 lb).

2. White Tern

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White Tern (Gygis alba) is a medium-sized seabird with white overall plumage. The species is found across the tropical oceans of the world. They build their nests on coral islands, usually on trees with small branches and on rocky ledges. White terns, also called the Fairy Tern has dark eyes and black eye rings and a long black bill. It has a notched tail, blue-gray legs and blackish feet with yellow webs between the toes. Adults measure 28-33 cm long with a wingspan of 66-78 cm and weigh 100-140 g.

3. Philippine Cockatoo

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Philippine Cockatoo (Cacatua haematuropygia), also known as sometimes called the Red-vented cockatoo or Katala, is a critically endangered species of cockatoo that is endemic to the Philippines. The species are found in lowland, mangrove forests, and often seen in forest edge and open fields. This beautiful parrot has perfect creamy white plumage with red and yellow feathers around the vent. Adults have a grayish-white bill, short erectile crest, pinkish-washed ear-coverts and lores. The Philippine Cockatoo typically measures 28-33 cm (11-13 in) in length with a wingspan of 70-87 cm (27.5-34 in).

4. Great Egret

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Great Egret (Ardea alba), also known as the common egret, is a large all-white heron widespread in North American wetland. This tall, long-legged wading bird has yellow eyes and a yellowish-orange dagger-like bill. A dazzling sight to see, the elegant Great Egret has long, S-curved neck, black legs and feet. The adult can measure 80 to 104 cm (31 to 41 in) in length and have a wingspan of 131 to 170 cm (52 to 67 in) and can weigh from 700 to 1,500 g (1.5 to 3.3 lbs).

5. American White Ibis

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American White Ibis (Eudocimus albus) is a medium-sized wading bird found from the mid-Atlantic and Gulf Coast of the United States and also occur in the Caribbean. The species habitat includes coastal freshwater, saltwater and brackish marshes, lagoons, mangrove swamps, mudflats and rice fields. This elegant and graceful bird has overall white plumage with pink facial skin, long, down-curved, bright red bill and long red legs. Adults measure 53 to 70 cm (21 to 28 in) with a 90 to 105 cm (35 to 41 in) wingspan and weighs from 592.7 to 861.3 g (1.307 to 1.899 lbs).

6. Red-tailed Tropicbird

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Red-tailed Tropicbird (Phaethon rubricauda) is a medium-sized seabird that nests across the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It has silky white plumage, a coral red bill and a small but conspicuous black eye stripe. It has black legs and feet and white tail. The elongated tail has red central streamers.

7. Masked Booby

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Masked Booby (Sula dactylatra) is a large seabird which breeds on islands in tropical oceans, except in the eastern Atlantic. The masked booby lives on the open ocean. It only comes on land to breed and raise its young. It has a white body and dark grey facemask. Pointed orange-yellow bill, a brownish-black wings and a pointed black tail. Adult measures from 74–91 cm (29–36 in) long, with a 137–165 cm (54–65 in) wingspan and weighs about 1.2–2.35 kg (2.6–5.2 lb).

8. Snowy Owl

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Snowy Owl (Nyctea scandiaca) is a large, white owl with variable black bars and spots. The elegant snowy owl is North America's only all-white owl. It is easily recognizable by its bright yellow eyes and blackish beak. Full grown measure 52–71 cm (20–28 in) long, with a 125–150 cm (49–59 in) wingspan and can weigh anywhere from 1.6 to 3 kg (3.5 to 6.6 lbs).

9. Ivory Gull

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Ivory Gull (Pagophila eburnea) is a pure white gull which spends most of its entire life living on floating pack ice. In North America, it only breeds in the Canadian Arctic. It has black eyes, thick, blue bill with a yellow tip and black legs and feet. Adults measure 44 – 48 cm long with a 106 – 118 cm wingspan and weigh about 520 – 700 g.

10. American White Pelican

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American White Pelican (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) is one of the largest North American seabirds. It breeds in interior North America, moving south and to the coasts, as far as Central America and South America, in winter. It has snowy white plumage with black flight feathers visible only when the wings are spread. This majestic pelican has a massive bill, a long neck, and very broad wings. Short legs, and short, square tails. An adult American white pelican measures 130–180 cm (50–70 in) long, a wingspan of about 240–300 cm (95–120 in) and weighs between 3.5 and 13.6 kg (7.7 and 30 lbs).

Monday, March 18, 2013

Colorful and Witty Pet Parrots

The parrot is a lovely companion for both the young and old. It could turn out to be an excellent pet given the proper training and attention.

African Gray Parrot

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Our first parrot in this group is the African gray parrot, known to be such talented talking parrots. There are two subspecies of African Congo Gray Parrots namely: the Congo African Gray Parrot and the Timneh African Gray parrot. Congo African parrot grows to about 12 in long with black beak, light gray plumage and dark red tail. While the Timneh subspecies is much smaller with a darker plumage and a darker maroon tail.

This parrot is capable of mimicking not only human words but have been documented imitating other manner of sounds, including the ability to whistle, squeak, click, shriek, etc; African gray parrot is also known for its feather plucking activity. Boredom, stress and improper diet may have something to do with this abnormal activity. Studies show that the intelligence level of African gray parrot equals that of a five-year old child.

African Gray Parrot can be an excellent pet because of its sociability and intelligence. However, prospective owners need to spend more time with the bird so as establish solid bonding. A good way to build up and gain your pet’s trust is to fly the parrot on your fingers and take it for a stroll around the house. The life expectancy of African gray parrot is about 40 to 60 years. But bear in mind, having an African Gray (or any parrot) as pet requires a lifelong commitment.

Amazon Parrot

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There are 27 extant species of Amazon parrot, found in South America, Caribbean and parts of Mexico. It can easily be recognized by its short wings and green plumage. Amazon parrots grow to about 36 cm and its common diet include fruits, nuts, and seeds.

Amazon parrots are good at imitating human speech and mimicking and other sounds. Some species like the yellow nape, double yellow heads, and blue fronts are good talkers and can also be good singers. They are popular as pets since they are loyal, sociable, energetic and playful. However, Amazon parrots are not for neophyte owners since they demand more attention than other house pets.

They need lots of interaction with its owners and at times flash moody characters. Amazon parrots are challenging pets for often they are aggressive, stubborn, quiet, jealous, silly, playful, or irritable. Owning one is just like owning a winged-dog. Studies also show that Amazon parrots have the intelligence of a three-year old child plus the temperament of a 50-year old adult.

Eclectus Parrots

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Eclectus parrots are brilliant and sleek birds, native to northern Australia, the Solomon Islands, New Guinea and neighboring islands. There are two popular subspecies namely: the Vosmaeri that are larger with elegant look and the “cute” looking Solomon Island variety that are smaller in sizes. Eclestus parrots are known for their brilliant color where males have green feathers with green primaries, while females sport bright red or purple/blue plumage.

In the wild, Electus parrots diet includes unripe nuts, fruits, flowers and seeds. While in captivity, they feed mostly on fruits such as; figs, guavas, mangoes, melons, bananas, grapes, apples, pears and other citrus fruits. These amazing birds are sought after as pets. When trained properly at a very early age, they have the ability to develop a cognitive behavior. They are very animated and enjoy taking part in daily activities.

Quaker Parrots

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Quaker parrots, also known as monk parakeet are native to South America and widespread in Brazil and Argentina. Mostly, they have green plumage with shades of blue in its flight feathers and tail’s tip. They are medium-sized, weigh from 80 to 150 grams and grow up to a foot from beak to tail. Quaker parrots can live up to 20 years or more.

Quakers are confident, energetic and very sociable birds. They suit well as pets for these birds are very loyal, gentle, charming, playful and are capable to imitate human speech. Quakers are known to be extremely good eaters and feed on fresh vegetables and fruits.

Senegal Parrots

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The Senegal Parrot is found in West Africa, Gambia and Guinea. It is about 23 in long from beak to tail and weigh from 125 to 175 gm. Senegal Parrot can easily be distinguished by its large head and beak and a short tail. Its staple diet includes fruit, seed and flowers. Adults have gray head and beak and shiny yellow iris

Senegal parrots can make excellent pets and are quieter than other parrot species. These cute birds can easily imitate human speech and other audible and clear sounds. They do mimic, but are more adept at sounds than clear speech. A good apartment pet, Senegal parrots are very affectionate, charming, comical, entertaining, highly trainable and bond easily with their owners.

Those interested in owning a Senegal Parrot should be willing to make time for handling and socialization with the bird every day. The more you interact the more a Senegal parrot will relax and obey you.